The much-anticipated race for horse racing’s Triple Crown kicks off this Saturday with the 152nd Kentucky Derby held at the iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
This year, attention shifts beyond the three-year-olds competing in the Derby. Renowned trainer Bob Baffert, who has secured a record-tying six victories in this prestigious race, will field two horses, aiming to become the most successful trainer in Kentucky Derby history. His presence adds an intriguing layer to the competition.
The Kentucky Derby will be broadcast live by NBC Sports throughout the day, ensuring fans have access to all the excitement as it unfolds.
Viewing Information for the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Date and time: May 2nd (Saturday)
Live coverage will begin at 12:00 PM ET on Peacock, with the broadcast continuing on NBC at 2:30 PM ET.
Kentucky Derby post time is set for 6:57 PM ET
Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
Television Network: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
Key Details of the Event
Number of Participants: 20 three-year-old horses
Purse: $5 million (with 1st place earning $3.1 million)
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
No. 1 Renegade (4-1)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. | Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Career Highlight: A leading contender in this year’s Arkansas Derby and Sam F. Davis Stakes. Fun fact: No Kentucky Derby winner has finished first since 1986, but trainer Pletcher, a two-time Derby champion, boosts Renegade’s prospects significantly.
No. 2 Albus (30-1)
Jockey: Manny Franco | Trainer: Riley Mott
Career highlights: Victorious at Tampa Bay Downs on February 27 and Aqueduct on April 4. Fun fact: Mott, like his father Bill Mott, is competing in the same races, giving Albus a familial edge, as his lineage connects to last year’s champion, Sovereignty.
No. 3 Intrepid (50-1)
Jockey: Hector I. Berrios | Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Career Highlight: Secured victory in the American Pharoah Stakes last October. Fun fact: Intrepid enters the Derby off a challenging performance, having lost by a significant margin in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4th.
No. 4 Litmus Paper (50-1)
Jockey: Martin Garcia | Trainer: Bob Baffert
Career Highlight: A winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity last fall. Fun fact: Litmus Paper’s sire, Nyquist, once earned the title of Horse of the Year.
No. 6 Commandment (6-1)
Jockey: Luis Saez | Trainer: Brad Cox
Career Highlights: Achieved victory in four consecutive races, including the Florida Derby, accumulating over $1 million in career earnings. Fun fact: Cox trained two horses for this Derby, almost including a third before Full Effort encountered an injury.
No. 7 Dannon Bourbon (20-1)
Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura | Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe
Career highlights: Undefeated in all three previous races, though they were run in Japan. Fun fact: Dannon Bourbon, although born in Kentucky, competes only in Japan, where no Japanese-bred horse has ever claimed victory at the Kentucky Derby.
No. 8 So Happy (15-1)
Jockey: Mike Smith | Trainer: Mark Glatt
Career Highlight: Achieved victory in the Santa Anita Derby by a notable 2 3/4 lengths. Fun fact: Smith previously won the Kentucky Derby in 2018 riding Justify.
